Arranging a funeral after a loved one passes away can be stressful and sometimes traumatic. When talking to funeral directors and funeral arrangers, it can be hard to know the best questions to ask to ensure they are the right fit to take care of your deceased loved one.
We’ve put together some questions to ask a funeral director as you’re exploring your options to help you make an informed decision for your loved one’s funeral.
Q: What services do you offer?
Ask plenty of questions about what your options are for a funeral and what the funeral director can provide for you and your family. Depending on the deceased’s wishes and your family’s needs, you may be interested in burial or cremation.
If you have done a little research about the funeral company or home before calling or chatting, you’ll have a rough idea of what they offer. It’s best to just let your arranger or director know exactly what you want, and they can tell you if that’s possible.
Sometimes the options can be overwhelming and you don’t even know where to start. Ask the funeral director to talk through your options and explain each in detail. This is where it’s also good to bring up cost - if they start talking about all the extras available, know that these could be unnecessary expenses.
At Bare, we specialise in simple, direct cremation, where we will collect the deceased, complete the cremation and deliver the ashes back to you. With no viewing or need to prepare a memorial or funeral before the cremation, it allows you to take the time to mourn, grieve and plan a memorial when you are ready. We also offer memorial services and can help arrange and run a beautiful service for your loved one.
Q: Are you available 24/7? What happens if my loved one passes away in the middle of the night?
Death doesn’t only occur during the day, so funeral providers need to be available to answer calls and collect the deceased at all hours, whether that’s from home, an aged care centre of the hospital. Check that 24/7 customer care is available.
Bare has an incredible customer service team who are available 24/7 to answer your calls. Our service is award-winning; we’re the only funeral director awarded Australian Customer Service Organisation of the year.
Q: What costs are involved? Are there any hidden costs or fees?
Most interactions regarding funerals are cost-driven. People want and deserve to know how much the funeral cost will be upfront, as well as any extra costs or fees.
If you find the funeral arranger or director avoiding the question or asking for exorbitant prices, this should be a warning sign. Something else to watch out for is if they try to add on plenty of extras, convincing you they are necessary. Often they aren’t and it’s best to get a second opinion.
At Bare, we are completely upfront about the costs of our cremation services. You can click here and get a quote on the spot by popping in your postcode. You can also give us a call anytime on 1800 071 176 for more details, or even use the live chat function on our website. Alternatively, you can read a full breakdown of our costs here.
Q: What are the payment options? Do I need to pay straight away?
A quality funeral director or funeral arranger will work with you when it comes to payment and offer you options depending on your circumstances.
If you are waiting for a deceased loved one’s funeral insurance, superannuation or funds from their estate to come through, your funeral director should be able to help. Even if there is a freeze on the deceased’s bank account, banks can release funds from the estate to pay for the funeral. Your funeral director should talk to you through this and let you know of your options, including if payment plans are available.
If you would like to chat through payment options with Bare, you can give us a call on 1800 071 176.
Read: Who pays for a funeral?
Q: Is there anything else I need to consider?
When planning a funeral, there feels like a million different things you need to know and consider and it’s hard to remember everything. Your funeral director should be able to remind you of anything that you might have forgotten, and should be there to chat generally about any thoughts or concerns and help where they can.
If you have any further questions, you can read Bare’s FAQ here, or call us on 1800 071 176. We’re available 24/7 and here to help you through this difficult time.
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